Norwegian scientists got interested in this problem and conducted a study involving nearly 3000 women. The research took into account all the circumstances of the participants’ life.

The conclusion was unexpected: pregnancy in most cases was prevented by excessive involvement in fitness. Intensive training in gyms to keep fit and to facilitate the flow of future pregnancy turned against the women and their ability to become a mother. The doctors still have not figured out the reasons for the relationship between physical activity and infertility, but they can say with confidence that it is necessary to reduce the intensity of physical exercises just a little, and in a year the reproductive function will be restored.

So all is good in moderation even such a useful thing as fitness.

Source of the image: Photl.

Women involved in the study were asked to fill out two questionnaires.  Interestingly, the second questionnaire was given to the participants ten years after they did the first.

Researchers discovered that women were able to get pregnant after about one year passed since they reduced physical activity.

Source of the image: photl.com.

The study, written by Jonatan R. Ruiz of Sweden, the coordinator of the team, was published in the International Journal of Obesity. Ruiz concludes that “an exercise regime carried out during the second and third trimester of pregnancy does not harm the health of the fetus.”

The research involved the participation of 160 healthy women ranging from 25 to 35. They were selected from women with sedentary habits who showed no symptoms of a possibility of premature birth. These women were divided into two groups one of which maintained an exercise regime for the whole period of pregnancy. They were closely supervised by experts of two institutions, the Physical Activity and Sports Science and the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit of Hospital Severo Ochoa in Madrid.

The second and third trimester of pregnancy got the most attention from the researchers; the embryos were analyzed using multiple methods for the effect the ongoing workouts had on the weight and size of the babies.

It was found that mothers’ constant exercising had no negative effect on the body size and other health parameters of their fetuses which displayed a close similarity to those in the group of women who weren’t engaged in physical activity during pregnancy.

Thus disposing of the superstitious fear of a probable harm to the baby, the study accentuates the health benefits of a physically-active lifestyle even during the last stages of pregnancy.

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/hamletnc.

Trained muscle is more flexible and it won’t get saggy soon like if it were physically weak breast. Doing just three exercises daily is enough, provided the exercising doesn’t hurt an expectant mom, or cause her any slightest feeling of discomfort. Below are these exercises.

1. Squeeze an exercise ball behind you at the level of your hips and try to raise it up. Hold the position for 5-10 seconds and put the ball down. Do 10 reps.
2. Place your hands in front of your breast and press the palms tight, straining your arm and breast muscles. Count until 15 and relax. Do 10 reps.
3. Take dumbbells weighing 2-5 pounds. Assume starting position by straightening arms in front of you. Move your arms to the sides and then return to the starting point. Do 10-15 reps.

Source of the image: flickr.com/photos/29082546@N00.

Dr. Kathleen Janz, the author of the study, explains that children who are physically active during the pre-school period less often become overweight during school years than those children who are not active. Scientists call it “savings effect”, since children receive the “dividends” from their early activities in the future (similar to the way it works with the savings bank accounts).

The protective effect of physical activities does not depend on how active the child is when he/she is older. Thus, we can conclude that even five-year-olds need to be maximally active, as they will be rewarded for those activities as they get older.

Avoid long periods of inactivity (more than one hour) and make sure to bring your child outside as much as possible. Even ten extra minutes of physical activities per day can make a difference in the future by protecting your child against weight problems.

Source of the image: flickr.com/photos/emeryjl.

What you may be recommended by your doctor is to:

• take 400-800 mg folic acid daily,
• take 200 mg vitamin E daily,
• eat protein rich foods,
• eat 5-6 times a day, little portions.

Another recommendation from my doctor is to listen to the music I enjoy and autogenic training. All pregnant women can pretty often experience fear, like “is everything ok with the baby?”. Telling yourself “everything’s going to be ok” is said to help.

Having enough sleep (my favorite recommendation ) goes without saying!

Unfortunately, no sports and fitness are allowed now and I’m usually very active. Hopefully, I will continue training soon. For now I’m only allowed to walk a lot (they say, walking is the best kind of physical activity for pregnant women), which I try to do regularly.